Page 134 of Their Blood Rite

‘It was noted that you did not arrive with luggage. Do you require a change of clothes for this afternoon's ceremony? Or anything refreshed? Your shirts, perhaps? Anything at all.’

‘No,’ he grinds back.

The door goes to close again. Another throat clearing has Shaw growling under his breath. When the steward speaks again, his voice trembles.

‘Apologies, My Lord. However, the king insists that your fiancé attend the ceremony this afternoon, and he made it clear that the dress she wore last evening is unsuitable for a swearing-in.’

‘Well, considering it was the king who ordered we spend the night when he was fully aware we had not brought anything with us, he will either be content with her in her dress, or she goes naked.’

My stomach flips. Surely, that’s not actually an option.

The steward hands him a key.

‘What is this?’ Shaw asks.

‘A key to the royal wardrobes. A rail has been prepared for Miss Nectan with suitable gowns for the occasion.’ He looks past Shaw to me. ‘A gift from Her Majesty. The rail is black and to the left when you enter. I believe a letter with your name has been left on it. Her Majesty welcomes you to choose one to wear this afternoon and keep.’

I take the key.

‘I can keep the dress?’

‘You may.’

‘Any dress I want?’ I grin, struggling to contain my excitement of owning a royal gown. Shaw finds amusement in how my voice raises as I grip the key. ‘What? Can’t I want a pretty dress?’

‘Of course you can. I just…’ He thinks for a second, softly smiling as he does. ‘Remind me to take you dress shopping when we return home,’ he chuckles. ‘I would like to be the one to make you smile like that.’ He turns to the steward. ‘Is that everything?’

‘Indeed.’ He offers a slight bow. He then takes a tray the redhead holds and offers it to me. ‘For you.’

I take it and lift the lid to see a platter of food, all of which has my mouth watering.

Shaw closes the door as I take the tray to the bed and heartily tuck in.

‘Did you get any sleep at all, Shaw?’ Archie asks him.

‘Not particularly,’ he replies.

‘Find anything useful on your walk?’ Archie leans in and sneers at the fruit platter I’m working my way through, poking at a slice of melon like it’s something that slithered onto my plate and died.

Shaw glances at me briefly and doesn’t say a word.

Like I ever expected he would.

‘Pixie. After you’ve finished eating, why don’t you go and choose that dress and bring it back here so you can get ready. We have some things to take care of before the swearing-in.’

I look between them.

‘You want me to go alone?’ I ask.

‘You’re a big girl. I’m sure you can handle it.’

‘Does this have anything to do with the three pretty blood banks with big tits?’

‘Excuse me?’

‘I already told you. If you’re putting that-’ I point at his cock. ‘Into anyone else, it is not coming anywhere near me, Shaw. And if you think I’m going to beg you not to accept your bodacious breakfast bouncing about outside, then think again.’ I drop the food from my fingers, my appetite suddenly lost. ‘But if you do, this deal is off, and the only thing you’ll get from me is a glass of blood to share between you once a week.’

Archie snorts before sealing his lips shut in response to Shaw's glare.

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